Acacia tortilis and Prosopis cineraria: Leguminous Trees for Arid Areas

Abstract

The rapid extension of the world's arid areas – some five million hectares annually – has greatly stimulated interest in the development of agricultural systems sustainable in areas of extremely low rainfall. The possibilities naturally depend very much on local circumstances, but investigation of Prosopis and Acacia species under the severe conditions of the Wahiba Sands of Oman indicates that they have considerable potential under extremely arid conditions.

Single primer amplification reaction (SPAR) reveals intra-specific natural variation in Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce

“…Hard and reasonably durable, the wood has a variety of uses for house building, posts, tool handles, and boat frames, although poor tree form limits its usefulness as timber. The leaves and pods are excellent as nutritious fodder for many animals (Gates and Brown 1988). Due to multifaceted utility of the species, as mentioned above, the pressure for it and its diverse products is mounting alarmingly.…”

The Borana Plateau of Southern Ethiopia. Synthesis of Pastoral Research, Development and Change

“…lf nutrient depletion in top soils is a factor in the decline of herbaceous productivity under heavy grazing on the Borana Plateau, there is other evidence that woody encroachment could have some beneficial effects on recovery of herbaceous vegetation by improving soil fertility. First, since woody seedlings can grow deep roots quickly (Gates and Brown, 1988;Solomon Kebede, 1989;Tamene Yigezu, 1990) they could establish and tolerate nutrient-depleted top soils to a higher degree than shallower-rooted grasses. Second, woody plants have been shown to have a potentially significant role in nutrient turnover and the replenishment of soil fertility in semi-arid savannahs.…”

“…Hodgson (1990: p 71-72) reserved his greatest enthusiasm, however, for A. tortilis. Acacia tortilis is well-known elsewhere for its persistence and production of fruits consumed by livestock and people (Pratt and Gwynne, 1977: p 258;Coughenour et al, 1985;Galvin, 1985;Coppock et al, 1986a;1986b;Gates and Brown, 1988;Sperling, 1989). Use of key species: Menwyelet Atsedu (1990: pp 1 0-28) studied several aspects of the ecology and utility of A. tortilis and A. nilotica fruits on the Borana Plateau.…”

Effect of Tractorization on Reduction in Natural Population of Prosopis Cineraria (L.) in Agro Ecosystem of Thar Desert.

“…Prosopis cineraria belonging to the family Leguminosae and subfamily Mimosoideae is a multipurpose tree species that provides fodder, fuel, food, timber, and shade. P. cineraria effectively stabilize sand dunes and can withstand periodic burial (Gates and Brown 1988). Farmers in arid and semi-arid regions of India and Pakistan have long believed it to increase soil fertility in crop fields.…”